The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-05-05

THE REFORMATORY BOYS AND THE
KAIMILOA. =

We cannot quite agree with the Bull
letin" regarding the Reformatory School
boys drafted on board the Kaimiloa.
Those who have been committed to the
school during their minority are wards
of the Board of Education for that
period, and may be apprenticed or dis
posed of by it i'll any proper way, pend
ing their majority. Those committed
for shorter period cannot be dealt with
in the same way. The consent of their
parents or guardians must be obtained
for any period beyond the term
of commitment. Now, as mat
ter of fact, four of the lads who
originally signifed their intention to
ship in the Kaimiioa withdrew at the
last moment because their parents dis
approved of their going, and so far as
they were concerned there the matter
ended. In respect of the others consent
must be presumed.
Whether the Board of Education has
a legal right to contract for these public
wards in service which will take them
outside the limits of the Kingdom is an
other question. Upon this point we
offer no opinion. 1t does not in the
main concern us. We may fairly as
sumo, however, that the Board would
not do any act prejudicial to the inter
ests of the boys; and further, it may be
added that the Kaimiloa, being a
national ship, those composing her Off
GERS and crew are, theoretically at least,
always upon Hawaiian territory. But
these are questions which should not
bias public opinion in the least degree.
That which is right and lawful should
be done, and that only.
Outside of all this comes up the ques-
ton of what is best for the boys them
selves? Is it better that they should be
taught trade or calling at which
they may earn an honest living, or that
they should be exposed to moral dry
rot at the Reformatory School? We I'M
hesitatingly say that it is better for the
boys, better for their parents, and better
for the community at large that these
lads should be trained to some useful
calling. And more especially is it de-
sirable that during such training they
should be removed as far as possible
from the influence of home companion
ship which necessarily surrounds an in
stitution like the Reformatory School
This has been the great difficulty here
tofore, as we take it, in the management
of that institution. Outside influences
were too potent for the discipline of the
school and no matter how painstaking,
intelligent or conscientious the admin
istration and management may have
been, every influence for good on its
part was liable to be thwarted. The
only wonder is that SO much was ac-
complished, not that so little has been
done.
This, however, is a general PROPOSE
ton which does not void legal rights.
These may not be ignored. But the tax
payers who maintain the Reformatory
School should have voice in this mat
ter. They are parties in interest, and
are represented by the Board of Educa-
ton. If, therefore, it can be shown that
no personal right has been impaired,
then we say unhesitatingly that the Re-
formatory School boys will be i'm
proved, physically and morally, by be-
ing placed on board a training ship
where they will sbe taught to obey,
while acquiring apractical knowledge of
seamanship which may render them good
and useful men in after life.